Kidwelly Castle, South Wales

Kidwelly Castle was built by the Normans and taken over by the Welsh a few times in its early history. In 1159 for example Rhys ap Gruffudd who was prince of Deheubarth the old kingdom of South-West Wales is recorded as having captured and burnt the castle which the Normans had built in Dyfed. 

By 1220 Kidwelly was once again in English hands. However it was attacked and destroyed by Llewellyn in 1231 so what we see today is a castle that primarily dates from the late 13th and early 14th centuries. A typical location for a castle it is located on a ridge next to a river, making use of the natural defences.

The gatehouse today is still the main entrance to the castle. It consists of three stories with a basement and battlements.  Round towers flank the gatehouse to the front but it lacks symmetry with a square tower block to one side.  The lower levels are only slits for light openings and defensive purposes. The rectangular recess would have housed the drawbridge.